Setting up an e-commerce business is more than just putting your product listing on a website. You need to do the same level of strategic thinking and planning for it just like you would for a physical store or production facility. It may sound appealing to pick a pre-built e-commerce platform. But having so many options can be overwhelming. If you have ever decided what brokerage platform to choose for any trader online, I am pretty sure you would understand the feeling.
Before you start looking for a platform, there are some questions you need answers to. Consider these platform requirements gathering:
- What are your business objectives? Do you want to reduce business cost, become agile or improve scalability?
- Are there any critical features you would like to see in your e-commerce platform?
- What are the systems integrations you need for launching your site?
- What are the key operations requirements of your business?
Some platforms seem extremely cluttered while some may be too simple for your business. Picking your first e-commerce platform is always tricky. Don’t fret, these tips can help you make the right decision:
Start with the Theme
The theme of a website reflects the identity of the brand. It controls how your website looks and feels. This is a great option for those who don’t want to hire a developer to customize the entire site. After you have picked the theme, you are all set to add your products into it.
This would be like moving into a new home. The place is already built, all you have to do is move your furniture and decorate it according to your taste. Popular platforms let you choose from a large variety of themes. Some are free and some are paid.
Go for an Impressive UI
The user interface of the platform matters the most. It’s great to have a modern template to nudge competition and impress customers. But if the UI makes it difficult for a visitor to navigate, you will eventually lose them. What you need is a memorable interface that perfectly represents your brand identity. Don’t forget it must distinguish your website from the rest.
Make Sure It’s Shopper-Friendly
These days, people prefer browsing websites and shopping via their mobile devices. That calls for picking a modern yet a mobile-friendly theme. With such a template, you will get to deliver a comfortable and fast shopping experience to users on the go. This could actually improve your sales.
What Integrations Does It Support?
When picking an e-commerce platform, check its integrations and plugins. Platforms such as Shopify offer multiple tools that assist you with running your business. You will have to sift through the options and pick the plugins that you think would work best for your business. Some popular plugins that you might need include email marketing tools, account plugins to manage sales, taxes, and revenues, and more.
Is It SEO-Friendly?
Even though you are running an e-commerce business, you can’t forget about SEO. In fact, what can be better than having your online store ranked higher by firms like Albany SEO Marketing in the search results? This will help your customers find you whenever they are searching for products or services like yours.
So how do you know the e-commerce platform you have picked is SEO friendly? For that, make sure the platform lets you add a blog to your website, use your own domain name and has the ability to leave customer reviews.
Reliable Customer Service
Customer service is an important aspect of any business, even when you are running it via an e-commerce platform. You usually have to deal with problems such as server download, slow page load time, software outages etc. that may frustrate your customers. This could actually affect your sales and brand image.
Therefore, when you are looking for an e-commerce platform, it’s extremely important to have someone to reach to whenever things go wrong. Make sure the platform you are considering has 24/7 customer service. That’s not all, check the options they are offering to reach out to them. How many levels of support are they offering and what does it cost? If you have any query, get its answer before deciding on the platform.
Security
Literally, nobody wants to do business with a website that’s not secure. Customers don’t want to lose their credit card info. For secure checkout, make sure the platform you pick supports SSL or HTTPS.
Flexible Pricing
The platform must have flexible pricing. Since you will be running sales, discounts and promotions, it must support all of that. You need to find a middle ground. Don’t go for a costly platform just because it’s offering great features.
Should You Go for The Most Popular E-Commerce Platform?
You might be tempted to pick a platform on the basis of its popularity. That’s not the right approach. The best platform is the one that helps deliver the outcomes and objectives you have set for your business.
Go for the e-commerce platform that fits your technical expertise of your team as well your business needs. Sometimes, a business is in a competitive landscape. It is bound to encourage technological disruption. If that’s your case, you will need a platform that can adjust with the speed of your business.
Final Words
Remember, this platform will make or break your business. Even though your own skills and expertise matter in CFD online trading, having a reliable brokerage platform always counts. Same goes for an e-commerce platform. Good luck with your quest.
